Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-02-05

feeling her way with the utmost nicoty, Mrs.
Drumblade wound the net of fattory round
and round Miss Pink until her hold ON that
innocent lady was, In every sense Of tho
word, secure Before half tine horses had been
passed under review Hardyman and Isabel
were out of sight, and Mrs Drumblade and
Miss Pink were lost In the intricacies Of tho
stables. Excessively stupid of me. We
had better go back, and establish ourselves
comfortably in the parlor. When my
brother misses us he and your charming
niece will return TO look for US in the cot
toge.n Under cover Of this arrangement the
separation became complete. Miss Pink held
forth on education 90 Mrs Drumblade In the
parlor, while Hardyman and Isabel were on
their way TO paddock at tho farthest limits
of the property.
81 am afraid you are getting little
tired" said Hardyman. won't you take
my armp
Isabel was on her guard; she had not for
gotten what Lady Lydiard had said TO her
mo, thank you, Mr.. Hardyman; | am a
better walker than yon Think
Hardyman continued the conversation in
his blunt, resolute way. 81 wonder whether
you will believe me" he asked '.if tell you
that this is one Of the happiest days Of my
lifegn
81 should think you were always happy
Isabel cautiously replied having such a
pretty place TO live in as this
Hardyman met that answer with one of
his quietly positive denials. "a man is
never happy by himself" he said. "He is
happy with a companion. For instance |
am happy with you"
Isabel stopped and looked back. Hardy
mans language was becoming a little too
explicit "Surely we have lost Mrs. Drum
blade and my aunt" she said. 81 don't
see them anywhere
'You will see them directly; they are only
long way behind" With this assurance
he returned, in his own obstinate way, TO his
one object in view. "Miss Isabel, want to
ask you question. I'm not ladies' man
speak my mind plainly to everybody--wo-
men included. Do you like being here to-
dayN
Isabel's gravity was not proof against this
very downright question. 81 should be hard
to please" she said, laughing, ''if didn't
enjoy my visit to the farm"
Hardyman pushed steadily forward
through the obstacle of the farm to the ques-
ton of the farms master "You like being
hereT he repeated "Do you like mer
This was serious Isabel drew back little
and looked at him He waited with the most
impenetrable gravity for her reply
II think you can hardly expect me to an
swer that question:" she said
"Why mott"
sour acquaintance has been a very short
one, Mr.. Hardyman. And If you are SO good
as to forget the difference between us, !
| think | ought To remember IL
what differencel"
1.-THE difference in rauk"
Hardyman suddenly s+ood still, and en-
phasized his next words oy digging his stick
into the grass.
IF anything have said has vexed you"
he began, tell me so plainly, Miss Isabel,
and I'll ask your pardon. But don't Throw
my rank in my face | cut adrift from al
that nonsense when took this farm and gnt
my living out Of the horses. What has
mans rank to do with mans feelingsp he
west On, with another emphatic dig Of his
stick II am quite serious in asking If you
like me, for this good reason, that like you.
Yes, do. You remember that day when
bled the old lady's dog Well, have found
out since then that there's sort Of incom-
pleteness in my life which | never suspected
before. It's you who have put that idea into
my head. You didn't mean it, dare say,
but you have done 1t all the same. ! sat
alone here yesterday evening smoking my
pipe-and / didn't enjoy it. l breakfasted
alone this morning-and didn't enjoy that.
| said to myself, She's coming to lunch, that's
one comfort--l shall enjoy lunch. That's
what feel, roughly described. | don't sup
pose I've been five minutes together without
thinking of YOU now In one waY and now in
another, since the day when l first saw you
When man comes to my time of life, and
has had my experience, he knows what that
means 1t means, in plain English, that his
heart is set ON woman You're the woman.